Fig. 2. HTLV-1 Gag and Env proteins are unpolarized in an isolated T cell, but accumulate at the cell–cell junction within 40 min of cell contact. Gag protein is transferred from HTLV-1-infected T cells to uninfected T cells within 120 min. (a–c) Single confocal sections showing isolated CD4⁺ T cells from a patient with HAM/TSP. (a) CD4⁺ T cell, tubulin- (green) and Gag p19 (red). (b) CD4⁺ T cell, tubulin- (green), Gag p15 (red). (c) CD4⁺ T cell, Env gp46 (red). (d–f) Confocal images showing polarization of HTLV-1 Gag and Env proteins to the cell–cell junction. Conjugates were allowed to form for 40 min between fresh CD4⁺ T cells from a patient with HAM/TSP. (d) CD4⁺ T cell, Gag p15 (red). (e) CD4⁺ T cell, Gag p19 (red). (f) CD4⁺ T cell, Env gp46 (red). (g and h) Confocal images showing transfer of Gag p19 protein from HTLV-1-infected T cells to uninfected T cells. Conjugates were allowed to form for 120 min. (g) HTLV-I-infected CD4⁺ and normal CD4⁺ T cell, Gag p19 (red). (h) HTLV-1-infected CD8⁺ and normal CD4⁺ T cell, Gag p19 (red). HTLV-1-infected T cells were marked with carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (green). The transmission picture [(b–h) blue] is superimposed on a 0.4 mm confocal fluorescence single section [(c–f) red, (b), (g) and (h) red and green]. Bar, 5 mm. Reprinted with permission from Ikagura et al. Science 299 pp.1714-1716. Copyright 2003 American Association for the Advancement of Science.

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